Central Missouri’s first riverboat casino back on track

Joe Stange

Thursday, April 27, 2000 | 10:06 a.m.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Central Missouri's first riverboat casino took a giant step toward reality Wednesday when the Missouri Gaming Commission approved Isle of Capri Casinos for a site in Boonville.

Isle of Capri president Jack Gallaway said preparation work will resume Thursday on the Boonville site next to the Missouri River.

"That's going to start right away," Gallaway said. Ground could be broken for construction within five months, Gallaway said, with a possible Labor Day 2001 opening date.

The vote transfers authority for the site to the Biloxi, Miss.-based Isle of Capri, which recently acquired Davis Gaming, the previous license holder. Isle of Capri needed the commission's approval after acquiring Davis Gaming, which held the state's approval but had not started construction.

Boonville has been trying for seven years to get a casino built there, but several factors delayed construction, including the presence of a railroad spur and environmental concerns. The city has also spent money improving streets and schools, based on the casino becoming a reality.

"The biggest concern to me is that Boonville has the most at stake in this particular situation," said Commissioner Bob Smith before voting for the transfer.

Tracy Walkup, Boonville's city administrator, testified before the commission wearing a purple Isle of Capri T-shirt. Several other Boonville residents, who arrived on a tour bus, packed the hearing room and also wore the T-shirts.

"This is our final hurdle in what seemed to be a sprint and turned out to be a marathon," Walkup said. "I would ask you to just stay with us one more time."

Gallaway said the next order of business will be moving a railroad spur that still obstructs the site. The company will also work with the state Department of Natural Resources to make sure that ground contamination is minimal.

When Isle of Capri breaks ground, it will also hand over $1.3 million for further traffic improvements in downtown Boonville. Earlier this month, Boonville received $850,000 for other improvements after the city council accepted Isle of Capri's bid.

The Gaming Commission's vote was a defeat for Bill Grace, owner of the St. Jo Frontier Casino in St. Joseph. Grace had been pushing a plan to build a casino directly across the river, in Howard County.

After the vote, Grace said the Boonville site is the worst he has seen in 10 years.

When asked if he was being treated unfairly by the commission, Grace declined to comment.

Isle of Capri currently owns 10 casinos, located in Colorado, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and Iowa, including the Lady Luck riverboat in Bettendorf and the Miss Marquette in Marquette.